Ghost Photos

2016. Hand colored historical photographs on ceramic tiles.

I frequently work from historical photos. During the course of researching the history of racism in America, I was haunted by recurring images of peaceful civilian resistance and (increasingly) violent tactics and weapons employed by the people in power against civilians. To me, there was a rhythm to the peaceful protest and the violent reaction. There was a parity: racially motivated violence (and resistance) happens throughout American history, and it happens everywhere.

While this series was still a work in progress, I had some mind-bending conversations about the role that White complicity in the creation of images of racially motivated violence, the history of “lynching postcards” and the fetishization of displays of power and violence. I decided that creating more Ghost Photos or exhibiting the series did not align with my values; I also did not want to hide the images that were haunting me, and had informed the process of creating the Lethal Force series. So, they are here on my website, and only on my website.